The Apple Watch Just Got an Unexpected Upgrade
Today, Apple announced AppleCare One, a $20 monthly subscription service that provides AppleCare coverage for three of your Apple devices. You can add more Apple devices to the plan for an additional $6/month per device.
The plan is obviously designed for those who pay for AppleCare+ for multiple devices. By bundling three devices together, Apple says you can save 'up to $11 a month over enrolling in separate AppleCare+ plans for each device.' (Note: unfortunately, there's no family plan option.)
There aren't any tradeoffs with AppleCare One — a subscription provides all the same benefits that came with AppleCare+ — but there are a few extra benefits … one of which is especially pertinent for Apple Watch wearers.
Theft and loss protection, now available to the Apple Watch
With an AppleCare One subscription, you can choose any three Apple devices you want to be covered in the plan. This includes iPhone, Apple Watch, Mac, iPad, Apple TV, HomePod and AirPods. Or multiples of each. The price of the plan remains unchanged regardless of the device.
The bundled plan gets you the benefits of AppleCare+. According to Apple, this includes 'unlimited repairs for accidents like drops and spills, 24/7 priority support from Apple experts, quick and convenient Apple-certified service, and battery coverage.'
Most notable for Apple Watch and iPad owners, Apple is extending theft and loss protection to those two devices for the first time. Previously, this was only available for iPhones with an AppleCare+ subscription.
Moving forward, anybody who purchases AppleCare+ for their Apple Watch, or bundles it in their AppleCare One plan, will have theft and loss protection.
If you've had AppleCare+ for your Apple Watch, you'll need to upgrade to a new AppleCare+ Theft and Loss plan or start subscribing to AppleCare One. Previous AppleCare+ coverage for Apple Watch doesn't include theft and loss coverage and won't be automatically upgraded.
Superior coverage for older devices
The other big benefit of AppleCare One is that it significantly extends the period during which you can get your device covered by AppleCare.
To date, if you wanted to add AppleCare+ coverage for a specific device, you had to do so within the 60-day window following its purchase. With AppleCare One subscription, you can add devices that are up to four years old and in good condition.
It's a big time increase.
For these older devices, Apple will have a process in place that proves they are still in 'good condition.' It'll involve taking photos of said device or bringing it to an Apple Store to undergo a diagnostic check.
The normal AppleCare+ coverage will not provide this four-year window. It'll only be available to devices included in an AppleCare One subscription.
When's it coming?
You'll be able to sign up for an AppleCare One subscription starting tomorrow, July 24th.
To sign up, you can on to the Settings app of you iPhone, iPad or Mac, and navigating to the AppleCare & Warranty section.
Once subscribed, you can see the products — both recently purchased or ones currently covered by AppleCare+ — that you want to add to the AppleCare One plan.
To learn more about AppleCare One, check out Apple's announcement post.
Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol's editorial team since 2014. As a Tech Staff Writer, he tracks everything in the consumer tech space, from headphones to smartphones, wearables to home theater systems. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.
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